Hamas threatens renewed suicide bombings

# Video: Life on Gaza's lethal streets# Audio: Tim Butcher says the fighting could spread across the region

The Middle East was on the verge of war last night after Hamas, the Palestinian militant organisation, threatened to renew suicide bombing on Israel. It did so after Israel launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians rescue a wounded woman after Israeli air strikes in Gaza CityPalestinians rescue a wounded woman after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City

'All options are open, including martyrdom operations (suicide attacks),' Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the military wing of Hamas, said.

Three Palestinian militants and three civilians were reported to have died in a wave of Israeli air strikes.

The Israeli army insisted that all were legitimate terrorist targets, although Palestinians reported one of the vehicles hit was a rubbish truck containing an innocent father and his two teenage sons.

Israel added more military pressure when it sent tanks and a small ground force about a mile into northern Gaza before they apparently dug in for the night.